Star of Cadbury's Flake poster adverts dies of cancer aged 52

A Cadbury's Flake poster girl, who appeared in 80s publicity adverts for the popular chocolate, has died of cancer.

Former model Marilyn Crossey, who also toured with pop legends The Cure, died aged 52 just weeks after being diagnosed with liver cancer.

The Shropshire-born beauty shot to fame in the 1980s with her stunning looks in poster advertising campaigns for the crumbly chocolate.

The former model strikes a pose for the camera, left, and pictured more recently at a family event

She did not appear in television adverts, but toured the world in later life, most recently settling in Spain, but was taken ill visiting her parent's home in Telford in August.

Father George Crossey, 84, a former Burma World War II veteran, described his daughter as a 'free spirit'.

He said: 'She was such an attractive girl and went off to London at the age of 18 to seek her fortune, joining a modelling agency.

'Free spirit': Marilyn's parents George and Connie Crossey said their daughter lit up other people's lives

'Marilyn had always been a free spirit. She had plenty of boyfriends over the years but never wanted to settle down.

'At one point, when she was living in the Caribbean, I thought she had died when I had a phone call from the Home Office to say she and a friend had gone missing while delivering a small boat.

'It drifted for days and they survived on raw fish until a Spanish freighter picked them up and took them to Bilbao.

'In the early 1980s, her then boyfriend was a driver for The Cure and she travelled all over the UK and Europe with them.'

Marilyn was also a successful artist and her work graces the entrance of the Wrockwardine Wood Art College, near Telford.

While visiting her dad and mum Connie, 79, in August, Marilyn complained of a stitch, went to hospital and was told she had inoperable cancer.

She spent just two days in a hospice before dying on September 27.

Her mother Connie said: 'Marilyn had a real sense of humour and lit everybody's lives.'

The funeral of Marilyn, who also leaves a brother Patrick, 42, was held on Thursday.

A picture which appeared on an earlier version of this article was of Janis Levy appearing in the 1981 'Gypsy Caravan' Flake television advert, and not Marilyn Crossey. We apologise for any confusion caused.